A Victorian police officer who shared images of former AFL player and coach Dani Laidley has been sacked over a separate photo scandal involving images of a crime scene.
Det Sr Const Murray Gentner was sacked on Monday after an internal disciplinary hearing. Victoria police confirmed the dismissal on Tuesday.
“Professional Standards Command charged the 45-year-old man with one count of disgraceful/improper conduct in February and he was suspended without pay,” a police spokesperson said. The charge laid by Professional Standards Command refers to internal police regulations and is not a criminal charge.
“The charge relates to the sharing of crime scene photos via a messaging app.”
The photographs allegedly shared were of dead bodies at crime scenes, the Age reports.
Police said three other officers also charged with disgraceful and improper conduct and would appear at a disciplinary hearing at a later date.
Gentner was one of three Victoria police officers accused of leaking photos of Laidley wearing a wig and a dress while in custody in May 2020. Laidley, a former North Melbourne player and coach, had been arrested and charged with stalking and other offences.
The photos were shared before Laidley, a transgender woman, publicly announced she had transitioned to female.
Gentner was accused of accessing Laidley’s arrest record on a day off and sharing details with colleagues in a WhatsApp group.
He was charged with disclosing police information without reasonable excuse and misconduct in public office.
But last year the Melbourne magistrates court dismissed the case on a legal technicality after finding the prosecution had failed to establish the officers had a duty not to disclose the information about Laidley, and Gentner kept his job.
Laidley received a confidential financial settlement from Victoria police in March 2022.
